1
as in to activate
to cause to function
a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actuate
Optical switches actuate via light rather than metal contacts.
—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Creating such complex structures combining soft and rigid features and actuating them with artificial muscles would further our understanding of natural kinematic structures.
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IEEE Spectrum,
6 Mar. 2026
The robots respond differently depending on how researchers actuate them.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
With 265-front and 295-rear summer meat connecting them to the pavement, the CLE53 never felt lacking in this department, and the pedal was rather pleasant to actuate.
—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Creating such complex structures combining soft and rigid features and actuating them with artificial muscles would further our understanding of natural kinematic structures.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Mar. 2026
The robots respond differently depending on how researchers actuate them.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
With 265-front and 295-rear summer meat connecting them to the pavement, the CLE53 never felt lacking in this department, and the pedal was rather pleasant to actuate.
—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
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Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
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Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Verb
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This pair is made from organic cotton and spandex, creating a comfortable material that moves with you.
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Gregory said that approach helped convince her to move forward with the project.
Verb
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Attorney Al Watkins, who represented the McCloskeys during the early stages of the controversy, said one of the biggest misconceptions about the case is what triggered the confrontation in the first place.
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The satellite's primary objective, though, is to observe gamma-ray bursts – events triggered by the catastrophic deaths of massive stars and considered to be the most powerful types of explosions in the universe.
Verb
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The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
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Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.
Verb
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Despite the lack of physical or video evidence, Kim said Rinderknecht is the only person who could have sparked the blaze.
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This marks an increase of nearly 8% from the price that sparked national headlines.
Verb
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His energy and hunger propelled him out of Argentina to a successful playing career in Europe, followed by a swift transition to management at top clubs in England, France and Spain.
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The overseas vote largely favored Fujimori, who was propelled by massive support from voters in the United States and Japan.
Verb
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That hardware, in turn, provides the foundation to power next-generation artificial intelligence models.
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The solar array does not power the building directly but provides power into the city power grid.
Cite this Entry
“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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